Effects of Dietary Substitution of Rubber Seed Cake for Groundnut Cake on Body Conformations of Broiler Birds

Abstract

Three hundred (300) day old Anak broilers were used in a 9 -week experiment to determine the effect of dietary substitution of rubber seed cake (RSC) for groundnut cake (GNC) on the gross morphology of broiler birds at 1^st, 5^th and 9^th weeks of age. Graded levels of rubber seed cake (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0%) substituted corresponding levels of groundnut cakes in five treatments (A, B, C, D and E respectively), which were further replicated five times in a completely randomized design and feed to the birds. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the experimental birds, while vaccinations and necessary medications were promptly administered to sustain good health and immunity.  Live weights and other parts were measured weekly in all the treatments. The average weights of the broilers at 1^st, 5^th and 9^th weeks were 999.3±18.9, 827.5±17.4, 1247.5±25.5, 1017.1±24.9 and 971.7±13.4 for treatments A, B, C, D and E respectively. Results showed that treatment C containing 5% rubber seed cake, significantly (p<0.05) improved body weight, shank length, wing length, body height, body length, thigh length and leg length.